Hallelujah and praise be, we’re in heaven! On Big Indian Trail in Phoenicia, NY

I’ve seen the future, and it is…Woodstock? Yes, that’s right, a place you may think peaked in the 70’s with sex, drugs and folk’ n’ roll, is my kind of happening — great biking, fantastic yoga (you can’t throw a stone without hitting a studio), hikes for days, rafting/tubing/swimming and ridiculous farm to table food that’s making me question my carnivorous past. (I think it’s a law that every restaurant MUST serve kale.) See ya, Hamptons – been real, but I’m feeling groovy.

As I type this I’m eating fantastic sunny side up eggs over polenta and sauteed greens (KALE!, c’mon now, of course) at the Phoenicia Diner, home of the best breakfast food in 3 counties. But for a special treat, book the tasting menu at Fish and Game in Hudson NY – it’s a 6 course dinner that changes every week based on what’s fresh,and it was one of the great meals of my life. Seriously, it’s foodie paradise. Hudson is primo antiquing territory and very happening so put on your favorite ironic glasses and take a stroll before dinner and be sure to wave at all the happy hipsters. My friends and I were joking that we’re cool enough for NYC but perhaps not quite up to edgy par in this town. It’s definitely fun to visit, but I gravitate most towards Woodstock, with its artsy, peacenik Stevie Nicks flavor, but that’s me. I sound like the Chamber of Commerce but there’s truly something for everyone. This was my first summer in this area and for sure I’ll be back. There’s so much to see and do, from culture to nature to food and style. WOW, Woodstock , I heart you. xxxooooSteph

I’ve been writing a series about powerfoods for a great new site, Archetype Me, and I wanted to share a few (super easy) recipes I’ve posted there. Go to ArchetypeMe for more recipes and tons of info for athletes, travelers, artists, sci-fi smarties and more.

Here is my recipe for homemade baked kale chips. Love ’em!

Sometimes in the late afternoon, lunch but a memory, I crave a nice salty crunch — but thanks to the joy of kale, I don’t have to resort to junk anymore. One of the surprising satisfactions about kale chips is their great texture; better still, they taste like they’re loaded with calories and fat — like the addictive snacks we’ve all battled to wean ourselves off. The green queen is the darling of fitness folks and foodies alike, and it punches way above its weight nutritionally. One cup contains (are you sitting down?) 36 calories and 5 grams of fiber — plus 15 percent of daily requirements of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40 percent of magnesium, and 180 percent, 200 percent, and 1,020 percent of vitamins A, C, and K respectively. BAM!

Preheat oven to 350˚ Fahrenheit and cover two baking sheets with a layer of aluminum foil. Wash the kale and dry the leaves. Remove the large ribs and rip leaves in two-to-three-inch pieces. Toss with the olive oil and sea salt to taste, and spread out on the sheets. Bake until crisp, about 20 minutes, turning halfway through. Once the chips are done, combine the nutritional yeast and the onion powder (if you added a lot of salt originally, make that just a dash of onion powder) in a large bowl and toss your chips in the mixture. Voilà.

The secret ingredient here is not the kale but the yeast. It tastes a little like nutty cheese — I love it on popcorn, for example — and it’s packed with protein: those two tablespoons deliver 8 grams of it, so adding the yeast to kale equals nutrition heaven, with few calories but a huge punch. I can eat a whole head of kale when I’m snacking. That sounds like a ton, but it bakes down to almost nothing, and the chips pack up wonderfully in a largish Tupperware for work. Just check your teeth in the mirror after eating them, because the green stuff can really rearrange your smile. They’re delish and nutrish — enjoy!

Check out this inspiring video of bodies in motion. Wo. Some of the magic comes from editing, no doubt, but this definitely makes me want to get up and move. Gravity seems not to apply to these folks – they (I) believe they can fly. Side note: I hope they have good insurance :)

So Marrakech. WOW. The colors were so bright, the beauty so lush, the scent of roses lingered in the air – I’m not sure words will do the trick in describing the sensory overload of being in the ancient city. It’s a place I always wanted to visit as the aesthetic so appeals to me, and it did not disappoint. I may just let some photos tell the story. In keeping with this blog, we did more than just explore – we also exercised about two hours a day – one yoga class and one fitness class (somewhere between bootcamp and sculpting) lead by the excellent Kiya Knight (Kiya Fiya, if must know…and she made us burn!) We stayed in Marrakech mostly and spent one day hiking in the Atlas Mountains. Escape’s Erica Gragg did another fantastic job picking fabulous/amazing hidden spots to visit and we all felt simultaneously out-of-our element (in a thrilling way) and totally taken care of. Was rather a perma-grin week for us all. Thank you, Erica, Kiya, Francesco and thank you to new pals I met who were so generous with their stories and their hearts. Ah travel, it does a body – and soul – good.

Where’s your next adventure? xxxooSteph

Kiya’s workouts are no joke. This was one stop on her make-you-cry circuit.

Handmade crafts are everywhere in the market. Alex bought three lamps in this store…and surprised me with one! A treasure. Heaven.

Erica outside a restaurant in the walled city. The streets are narrow and the world opens up behind beautiful doors. Homes and restaurants have gardens and atriums and you eat outside

It’s a tale as old as time. Us humans love epic journeys to push ourselves to really see what we’re about, from Jason and the Argonauts traipsing through a wacky Greek-Mythology All Star obstacle course to Italian trader Marco Polo chilling with the Mongols in the Steppes, way back in the day. Well friends, my time has come. Montauk. By bike. Join me.

Minstrels will write songs about us.

Wackiness from last year’s Ride To Montauk. The fish are biting!

On June 1, rain or shine, I’ll be joining some hearty (crazy?) friends and doing the Ride to Montauk. There are a few distances available, and we’re doing the 108 mile option (if you’re totally nuts, there’s a 150 mile route.) Along the route, organizers feed you pie, healthier snacks and plenty of water and everyone meets at the end for a great big party by the lighthouse in Montauk which I can image is not very happening as most riders will be nearly comatose by then. The organizers truck your bike back to the city, riders take the train home, you sleep for a few days, and you’re done. Viola. Epic.

New toy alert. Say hello to my little friend, or should I say my GIANT friend. Gotta take ‘er out and let her do her thing!

I’ll let you know how it goes…or better still, sign up and say hi! xxoo Steph

A friend of mine from Boston, Fred Harrington, shared this story from his cousin, Laura Wellington, who ran the Boston Marathon yesterday. I’m posting her story here as it made me feel a tiny bit better. The horror of the bombs, and the violence and suffering they imparted, is hard to process and hard to withstand. Please help share this story if it moves you – it did me. xxoo Steph

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As some of you know, I was 1/2 mile from the finish line when the explosion went off. I had no idea what was going on until I finally stopped and asked someone. Knowing that my family was at the finish line waiting for me, I started panicking, trying to call them. Diverted away from the finish line, I started walking down Mass Ave towards Symphony Hall still not knowing where my family was. Right before the intersection of Huntington, I was able to get in touch with Bryan and found out he was with my family and they were safe. I was just so happy to hear his voice that I sat down and started crying. Just couldn’t hold it back. At that moment, a couple walking by stopped. The woman took the space tent off her husband, who had finished the marathon, and wrapped it around me. She asked me if I was okay, if I knew where my family was. I reassured her I knew where they were and I would be ok. The man then asked me if I finished to which I nodded “no.” He then proceeded to take the medal off from around his neck and placed it around mine. He told me “you are a finisher in my eyes.” I was barely able to choke out a “thank you” between my tears.

Odds are I will never see this couple again, but I’m reaching out with the slim chance that I will be able to express to them just what this gesture meant to me. I was so in need of a familiar face at that point in time. This couple reassured me that even though such a terrible thing had happened, everything was going to be ok. -Laura Wellington

Cristina pretty much has access to all the top bikers, so this compilation of the best from the best is insider gold. From the right tire pressure to the best seat height, from a weekend joyride to a competitive race, click here to ensure happy trails. See you out there soon, pedal pushers! xxoo Steph

Mix the chia seeds with the almond milk in a small Tupperware container or small bowl and stir. Add a teaspoon or less of agave and stir again. Cover and place in the refrigerator for an hour or two. If the spirit moves you, when it’s setting stir again and break up clumps that will form. The chia seeds will expand and absorb the almond milk, forming a thick pudding that will stick to a spoon, even upside down. It tastes like tapioca. Zhuzh it up with berries when you serve and sprinkle on a dash of cinnamon.

I have a problem with food. I train after work twice a week at 7 pm and often (too often) I get to the gym a panting, stressed out mess having sprinted there directly from my office, arriving with about 30 seconds to spare. Unfortunately, about 100% of the time I have not made time to eat before my sessions. I have lunch around 1 pm and have jam-packed days and working out 6 hours after eating is plain and simple DUM. My workouts often play out like this: Here I go! Here I go! Heeere I goooo…why am I so tired?…this stinks! ….grrrr!!!!…fail.

Not only does not eating for such a long stretch lead to hideously grumpy moods, low energy and overall poor performance, it slows my metabolism as I am, essentially, starving myself. Whatever good I am striving for with my intense workouts is nullified by the stress I am putting on my body by not feeding my engine and then asking it to go full throttle. And did I mention my mood? (Yeah, that bad…)

And so, enter my hero, vegan athlete superstar trainer, Tony Soto. Perhaps it was self-preservation on his part, but he came up with a plan for me to cook healthy meals that are ideal for training and can be prepared in bulk. Let’s turn that frown upside down, shall we? Training is supposed to be fun.

Sweet potato chips with sea salt and a bit of olive oil about to go in the oven to bake.

Tony gives my kitchen a workout.

Tony came over today armed with groceries and we cooked and cooked. Thanks to him, when the clock strikes 4 pm at work now, I’ll have great, balanced energy-rich meals packed in Tupperware and ready to go so that 3 hours later all will be well in Equinox. Tony and I made kale chips, sweet potato chips, a ton of quinoa (it freezes beautifully), sautéed seiten and a saute of veggies (kale, pepper, onions, carrots, tomatoes) with chicken breast (that was for me – Tony politely declined the chicken.) He even made a chia seed/almond milk mash that doubles as dessert (I’ll post that recipe this week.) Viola – snacks/small meals for DAYS.

The fact is, exercise is great, but food impacts how you fit in your jeans more than any pullup ever will. Food is the key, and I can tend to forget that. It takes planning, prep, and attention – but it’s worth it. I can’t thank Tony enough. The bottom line is, eat up before you exercise and you’ll feel and look better. It may sound counter-intuitive, but you need to eat to lose or even to maintain. xxxooo Steph

Like this:

Last year, a hilarious Wall Street Journal writer, Jason Gay, came up with a list of rules for successfully deciphering the battlefield we call the gym, and it cracked me up. I wrote about it, of course, so you guys would see it, too. I’m happy to say, Jason is back, in all his glory, calling out more of the absurdity and silliness many of us exhibit when working out. Pure comedy. Check out his new WSJ story below, and don’t forget, laughing is truly great for the abs and sure beats crunches. xxoo Steph

This is our second Journal installment of Rules for Conquering the Gym, because let’s be honest: You probably have yet to conquer the gym. It’s OK. Gyms are tricky relationships. You fall in and out of love. Commitment fades. Maybe you have a torrid affair with ice cream sandwiches. All you know is that you used to go to that gym five times a week, and suddenly it becomes two, and then two becomes one, and one becomes none, and none becomes a brand new size of jeans.

Don’t give up! Exercise will keep you healthy and vibrant, happier than any shopping spree or Netflix frenzy, and you don’t need to chase a quick fix or run to a dodgy plastic surgeon. But you can use some encouragement. Here are our latest rules:

1. The first three months at the gym, you will not lose a drastic amount of weight. However, you will learn an amazing amount about Drew Barrymore while watching “Access Hollywood” on the elliptical trainer.

2. Focus on technique. Have an instructor teach you proper form. If you lift a barbell like a 129-year-old man bending over to pick up a turtle, you need some help.

3. No, you’re not getting a six-pack. You’re just trying to take off your shirt at the beach without people running to their cars.

4. Avoid gyms next to liquor stores and Cinnabons.

5. Consider investing in one of those fancy computer wristbands that measures how many calories you burn walking between birthday cake parties in the office.

8. The scale in the locker room weighs everything seven pounds heavier. Do NOT dispute this. The psychological stability of the entire gym membership depends on this.

9. Every gym in the U.S. has an indestructible issue of People magazine with Katie Holmes on the cover. You can throw it into the recycling, and two weeks later, it will be there, sitting on a treadmill, open to the Katie Holmes article.

10. It’s fun to take an exotic gym class. But be careful: If you talk too much about your “Extreme Javelin” class to your co-workers, pretty soon your nickname behind your back in the office is going to be “Extreme Javelin.” Hey did you talk to Extreme Javelin about that report? Is Extreme Javelin coming to the 3 p.m. meeting?

11. Squat! You hear people say this and it’s true. If you’re not doing squats, just stop going to the gym and take $100 and set it on fire in a garbage barrel once a month.

12. The most intimate, personal thing on anyone’s phone is the WORKOUT JAM TUNES MIX. That’s where the Ace of Base and Men Without Hats hides.

13. The Clint Eastwood move in any gym is to walk up to the TV in a packed room full of ellipticals and treadmills, change it over to The History Channel, and light a cigar.

14. Nutrition is a half of the exercise battle. For real. Do not conquer the gym and then conquer The Cheesecake Factory.

15. Everybody has Gym Friends, people they know only from the gym. This is important and humanizing. You may have accomplished great and sophisticated things in the outside world, but to them, you’re just The Weird Guy Who Jumps Rope Like A Goat.

16. Someone really needs to start a gym chain called Bench Press and Stare at the Wall for people who just go to the gym and Bench Press and Stare at the Wall.

17. Wow you really just took a phone call in spinning class? Amazing.

18. Make sure to read every gym contract carefully. That gym you signed up for in 1989, in the city where you used to live? Check your credit card statement. You’re still paying $12.99 a month through 2092.

19. Every yoga class has a few show-offs who can’t wait to get to the handstands. Just let them do their handstands and get it over with.

20. Most hotels do not have gyms. They have a busted treadmill, a dusty exercise ball, and a sad TV that only gets Dr. Phil.

21. You know that CEO who claims to be working out every morning at 3:45 a. m.? Ha! The CEO just said that to a reporter once to sound tough. Totally wakes up at 8:30 a.m. and eats a huge pile of pancakes.

22. The best gym on earth is outside, and it’s totally free.

23. Everyone looks good doing dumbbell curls in the mirror. That’s why people do dumbbell curls in the mirror. But do other stuff, too, Narcissus.

24. Always end every gym class by shouting “I win! I win! I win!” at the top of your lungs, grabbing your stuff, and running out the door, laughing maniacally.

25. A visit to the gym is always better than nachos and margaritas. OK that’s a total lie. Nachos and margaritas rule. But go to the gym the next day, OK?